45 acp FMJ questions.

[JustsayMo]

So far I've safely and successfully loaded for 44 Rem Mag, 357 Mag & 30-30 I've decided to try 45 ACP. My GI model functions best with factory 230g FMJ so I figured that would be the logical place to start. I'm thinking 230 gr Montana Gold FMJ, over 8 gr of #5 and a cci 300 primer, COL 1.250". My questions are:

Is my recipe reasonable? I have some Win 231 and Red dot that I might try experiementing with too.

No cannilure, do I crimp?

What velocity should I try to get in my GI 1911?

As always, thank you VERY much for your help!

 

[BigSlick]

Hi JSM,

I have recently been working up a couple of batches of new loads using HS-6 and AA#5.

For the AA#5, I use 230 MG ball, mixed brass 8.0 gr AA#5, WLP primers, seated to ~1.255 OAL. I chronoed a few last time to the range, all were in the 800 fps range with ES of 28. I use just enough crimp to remove any belling, .471-.472 (I think).

Accuracy was 2½ @ 25yds off bags. It shoots very clean, and makes a great plinking round. Recoil is soft, and there is quite a bit more range before max published level. More work is needed to dial this one in for my pistol, but for a starting load, it works great.

I have used the same load, utilizing 8.2 gr HS-6 and it is very, very accurate. It burns a little dirtier than AA#5 at this charge, but bumping it up to 8.4 cleaned things right up. 8.4 is above Hodgdon's published data (which suggests 1.2 OAL), but within safe limits published by four other credible sources (bullet mfr's). I have seen no over pressure signs at this level and it chronos at 825 fps with the 1.255 OAL.

Both loads need a little finish work.

For a general range load I use TiteGroup with 4.8 gr, 1.260 OAL with a Rainier's plated or MG ball. Both chrono at about 760 fps and this load burns clean as a whistle, and it is accurate as all get out. Very soft shooter, good for introducing newbies to the .45 ACP.

HTH

BigSlick

 

[Dave R]

I use TiteGroup in .45acp, too. But I have one big concern over it.

It is so "space-efficient" that you could easily double-charge with it. Heck, a tripe charge would probably fit in the case.

Again, I use it because I like the way it performs, but urge others to be careful for double-charges.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

With the .45 ACP you taper crimp. Since it headspaces on the case mouth, you never roll crimp, and hence no cannelure is needed.

Taper crimping is best done after seating the bullet, as a seperate action.

 

[jacobtowne]

JSM:
Yes, you crimp, but with a rimless case that headspaces on the mouth, you use a taper crimp rather than a roll crimp.
I have two US .45s, a Colt 1911 and an Ithaca 1911A1. I use 200 grain cast SWCs in both, no problems whatever except for the usual leading. The bullets are from Northeast Bullets in Maine, and I get them at a local gunshop in boxes of 500 for twenty something a box.
I also use WW231 powder.
JT

 

[Rockstar]

The load that you mention is one of my favorite range loads. I'll bump it up a few tenths of a grain sometimes, but I never go over published max loads.

 

[whofan]

DaveR,

I, too, use TiteGroup--and AA#2. You must be very careful with both. It is so easy to double charge these powders.

I am thinking of returning to AA#5 so I don't have to worry so much. However, I am so cheap that it may be hard to do.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I'm a W231 user. 5.5gr of powder in mixed brass and WLP primers with 230gr West Coast plated bullets shoot just fine out of my Kimber and Bersa.

 

[Stinger]

I load 8g AA#5, 230g Rainer bullet, CCI LP primer, 1.261 oal, sometimes I crimp, sometimes I don't. It doesn't seem to make any difference in my situation. A lot of people seem to like the factory crimp die.

I have never climbed much over 8. I am too lazy, I guess. 8g shoots fabulously out of my Springer GI, so I don't see much use in changing.

One thing that has seemed to help me tremendously with 45acp is to be sure and expand as little as possible. And before I even get to that point, I make sure I debur the outside of the cases at least every other firing. It really seems to smooth up ejection. This is particularly important after trimming and after the first firing.

I think you'll enjoy your chosen load.

Regards,

Stinger

 

[The Bushmaster]

I use W-231 in .45 ACP. From 5.0 grains to 6.7 gains (THIS IS A MAXIMUM LOAD. USE CAUTION). And I don't crimp at all...

Oops...My appologies gentlemen...I should have mentioned that this is using a 185 grain remington JHP ......

 

[pyrotechnic]

I use 6.0 gr of Universal with both 230gr FMJ and hornady XTP.
In my USP45F I think they're going about 850 ish.

Regards,
Maarten

 

[HankB]

IIRC the military load used 4.6 grains of Bullseye under the 230 FMJ. (I'm working from memory here . . . check it against a good reloading manual before trying this load!)

 

[The Bushmaster]

Using 185 grain Remington JHP, 6.7 grains W-231 (A Maximum Load. Use caution and work up to it) CCI-300 primer and Winchester cases. I am getting an average velocity of 970 fps ES 29 fps SD 12 fps AD 9.3. These are seated to 1.200 for defence and 1.250 for target...

Love my W-231 .........................

 

[JustsayMo]

Thanks for all the help guys!

I took my first batch of reloads out to the range yesterday and my GI 1911 A1 functioned flawlessly and accurately. At 7 yards the holes were touching which I had never managed with factory ammo. This 45 might have more accuracy potential than I thought.

One thing I noticed is the spent cases seem to eject higher and farther away than I remember the factory ammo ejecting...

 

[The Bushmaster]

And how's the weather in the Emerald City these days. I do miss the Great Northwest...

 

[JustsayMo]

The weather is pretty typical. Not as wet as you have had this year I guess.

The Emerald city is getting more and more crowded. It's not the ideal place to be a traditional thinking liberty minded individual. King County is a micro-Californial now. A lot of goverment and they have the population to elect a governer without the rest of the state. I'm an hour away (in good traffic) and it's feeling a lot too close for me.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I used to hunt and fish the Snoqualimie River area. From Lenix Creek Falls all the way down to Spur 10 bridge...Man do I miss it....Have taken a bunch of deer out of there and the summer steelhead in late August and early September are out of this world...